Bai Ta Zhi Guang

The Shadowless Tower | Der schattenlose Turm
Gu Wentong is a divorced food critic with a daughter whom he has arranged to be brought up by his sister. Thanks to an incident that destroyed the family, he has not had any contact with his father since he was a child. One day, he learns that his father lives alone in Beidaihe, a coastal town 300 kilometres north-east of Beijing. Still bearing a large grudge, Wentong is reluctant to visit his “disgraced” father. In the meantime, he begins a relationship with a younger colleague, the photographer Ouyang Wenhui, who is also from Beidaihe. They often meet in the area near the White Pagoda and visit local restaurants together. Wentong then begins to reconsider his roles in life as a father, son and lover.
In this romantic and enchanting film, Zhang Lu explores the possibility of recovering all the emotional and spiritual fragments that are lost during the course of our lives to prevent them from being forgotten. People come closer to each other, and move away again, but the images and sounds remain to bear witness to their passage.
by Zhang Lu
with Xin Baiqing, Huang Yao, Tian Zhuangzhuang, Nan Ji, Wang Hongwei, Li Qinqin, Wang Yiwen
People’s Republic of China 2022 Cantonese, Mandarin 144’ Colour World premiere

With

  • Xin Baiqing (Gu Wentong)
  • Huang Yao (Ouyang Wenhui)
  • Tian Zhuangzhuang (Gu Yunlai)
  • Nan Ji (Nan Ji)
  • Wang Hongwei (Li Jun)
  • Li Qinqin (Gu Wenhui)
  • Wang Yiwen (Xiao Xiao)

Crew

Director Zhang Lu
Screenplay Zhang Lu
Cinematography Piao Songri
Editing Liu Xinzhu
Music Xiao He
Sound Design Wang Ran
Sound Wang Ran
Production Design Zheng Yican
Costumes Bai Yun
Make-Up Sun Yong
Assistant Directors Li Siyang, Lei Xiayong
Casting Liao Yanlong
Production Manager Cui Hong
Producers Xu Jiahan, Peng Jin, Zhang Jian, Huang Yue, Lu Sheng
Executive Producer Liu Wenli

Produced by

Lu Films

Emei Film Investment

Great Luck Films

La Fonte

KO Media

Zhang Lu

Born in Yanbian, Jilin, People’s Republic of China in 1962. He studied Chinese Literature and began writing poetry and novels in 1986. Zhang Lu has been working as a filmmaker since 2001.

Filmography

2001 Shi yi sui (Eleven); 15 min. · Shi yi sui (Eleven); short film 2003 Tang shi (Tang Poetry); 88 min. 2004 Tang shi (Tang Poetry) 2005 Mang Zhong (Grain in Ear); 109 min. · Mang Zhong (Grain in Ear) 2007 Hyazgar Desert Dream; 125 min., Competition 2007 · Hyazgar (Desert Dream) 2008 Chongqing · Iri; 108 min. 2010 Dooman River 2008 Chongqing; 95 min. 2010 Dooman River; 89 min., Generation 2010 2013 Pung gyeong (Scenery) 2014 Gyeongju 2013 Pung gyeong (Scenery); 95 min. 2015 Pil-re-um si-dae sa-rang (Love and…) 2014 Gyeongju; 145 min. 2016 Chun-mong (A Quiet Dream) 2015 Pil-re-um si-dae sa-rang (Love and…); 71 min. 2016 Chun-mong (A Quiet Dream); 101 min. 2018 Gunsan (Ode to the Goose) 2019 Fukuoka 2018 Gunsan (Ode to the Goose); 121 min. 2021 Yanagawa 2022 Bai Ta Zhi Guang (The Shadowless Tower)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023